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Man charged with murder in New York City high-rise gas explosion
Samuel Calderon faces murder and burglary charges after a gas stove theft caused a deadly explosion in a Bronx high-rise that injured over a dozen residents, officials said.
- Prosecutors said the blast was traced to an intruder who disconnected a stove to steal and sell it, igniting flames shortly after midnight Saturday in a 148-apartment former public housing high-rise on Bivona Street.
- Samuel Calderon is being held without bail after arraignment on murder and burglary charges; police say the homeless 55-year-old was ordered in October to stay away from the woman whose apartment he entered, aiming to sell her gas stove for crack cocaine.
- Investigators say escaping gas rose through the 17-story building and ignited while firefighters investigated a gas odor, causing a ceiling collapse that killed 60-year-old resident Ronald McAllister and injured more than a dozen people.
- It remained off-limits Thursday as repairs continued, the city Buildings Department said, while officials and building management discussed how soon residents can safely return and the Red Cross reported over 350 residents signed up for emergency aid.
- Some occupants leaned out of windows, yelling into the frigid night for help as the blaze spread, while Calderon's lawyers declined to comment Thursday and no contact information for any relatives of Samuel Calderon could immediately be found.
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Total News Sources5
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
L 20%
C 80%
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